System for data transfer between microcomputer devices

ABSTRACT

The system according to the present invention for data transfer between microcomputer devices contains a standard protocol controller, a generally known ethernet controller, for example, as a coupling device instead of the known multiport RAM. Instead of a parallel data connection, the microcomputer devices are coupled to one another via a standardized, serial data connection, for example, ethernet. Using the functions of ethernet switches already known, the number of microcomputer devices in this system may be increased.

[0001] The present invention relates to system for data transfer between microcomputer devices according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Systems for data transfer in which the accessing units are decoupled via a multiport RAM memory device are known from the related art. In this case, the multiport RAM memory device is used as a coupling device for data between the accessing units.

[0003] A multiport RAM memory device having two ports is described in “IDT High-Speed 3.3 V 1Kx8 Dual-Port Static RAM, September 1999”. All data, address, and control signals are connected in parallel to the memory device described. The high number of signals resulting therefrom is disadvantageous if the accessing units are electrically isolated from one another or even more accessing units are to be added. The control of the memory device described requires a certain outlay, since accessing conflicts must be dealt with by the memory device and by the accessing units.

[0004] A protocol controller for data transfer between a first microcomputer device, containing a first microprocessor bus, referred to here as a local bus, and a standardized data bus, referred to here as a PCI bus, is described in “PCI 9050, PLX-Technology, Inc. 1996”. In this case, the PCI bus is used as a signal connection between two microcomputer devices, which are transferring data to one another. Functional separations may only be achieved if all signals to the PCI bus are switched off, i.e., the high resistance state (tri-state) is switched to. Electrical isolation between two microcomputer devices of this type is impossible or is only possible at very high cost, since the number of parallel signals is very high. As a supplement to this, a microcomputer device, referred to here as an interbus interface module for PCI, which is suitable for data transfer via the standardized PCI bus, is described in “IBS PCI DDK UM, Phoenix Contact, 7/2001”.

[0005] A further multiport memory device is known from German Patent 199 61 138 C2. In this case, access by multiple accessing units to a single-port RAM is made possible using a time-multiplex system. To provide control signals and address signals, serial-parallel converters are used, and time slot assignment units are used to assign and schedule the time control. In this case, the time slot assignment devices are implemented as control units which require a very high outlay for implementation and/or programming. Separate implementation and/or programming is necessary for each number of accessing units. The serial-parallel converters convert serially arriving signals in such a way that they are applied in parallel to the corresponding ports of the multiport RAM. In order to be able to-operate multiple ports, all data signals, control signals, and address signals are necessary for each port, due to which a very high number of signals results at the multiport RAM.

[0006] A system for data transfer which decouples a serial connection between two microcomputer devices in such a way that the data to be transmitted or received is buffered, therefore making the microcomputer devices independent of the cycle of the data to be transmitted or received, is disclosed in German Patent Application 100 26 416 A1.

[0007] The functions of the known components for data transfer via ethernet are described in “Ethernet in der Automatisierungstechnik [Ethernet in Automation Engineering], 2000 by Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co”. The basic functions of hubs and switches are described here. These components allow the division of systems for data transfer into segments. Multiple microcomputer devices which transfer data to one another may be located within the segments. The mechanisms according to the known ethernet standard for addressing the microcomputer devices are schematically described here.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECT

[0008] The present invention is based on the object of providing a system for data transfer between microcomputer devices. The microcomputer devices may be turned off separately from one another, the respective microcomputer devices still remaining turned on not able to be influenced in their operation and their power supply. In order to provide the electrical isolation between the microcomputer devices necessary for this purpose, the number of signals to be coupled is to be kept as low as possible. The use of standard components for data transfer is preferable in this case, in order to achieve the lowest possible implementation outlay. Increasing the number of microcomputer devices which transfer data to one another is to be possible. The system according to the present invention is also suitable for data transfer between at least one microcomputer device and at least one additional device, such as a plug-in card or memory, or an interface module for a field bus system.

ACHIEVEMENT OF THE OBJECT

[0009] The object is achieved according to the present invention by the features indicated in claim 1. In the system according to the present invention for data transfer between microcomputer devices, each microcomputer device contains a standard protocol controller, an ethernet controller known from the related art, for example, as a coupling device for the data, instead of the known multiport RAM. A protocol controller of this type contains terminals for a microprocessor bus having multiple signals for a microprocessor or, for example, a parallel standard PCI bus and one or more terminals for the serial data signals for data transfer, ethernet, for example. The addressing and access control of one microcomputer device from another microcomputer device is performed using the standard functions already implemented in the protocol controller, an ethernet controller, for example. Access conflicts, addressings, and other functions necessary for data access are executed in this protocol controller. The spatial arrangement of the microcomputer devices which transfer data to one another is not fixed for the system according to the present invention, so that at least two microcomputer devices may be arranged within one system. It is also conceivable for both microcomputer devices which transfer data to one another to be positioned on one single board and/or circuit board. The microcomputer devices to be coupled to one another may each have their own power supply, so that in this case only the serial data signals receive electrical isolation via an optical coupler or other devices. In the case of an ethernet connection, for example, this requires the electrical isolation of only four signal lines. The interfacing of further microcomputer devices to an already existing system of microcomputer devices is easily possible using known hubs or switches. In this case, the overall access control does not require any change of the existing system of microcomputer devices. Even spatially distant microcomputer devices may be additionally introduced easily and in a known way into an existing system for data transfer between microcomputer devices using an additional line connection.

[0010] List of Reference Numbers

[0011]1: first microcomputer device

[0012]2: first microprocessor

[0013]3: first microprocessor bus

[0014]4: first coupling device, first protocol controller

[0015]5: serial data signals in the first microcomputer device

[0016]6: power supply region of the first microcomputer device

[0017]7: electrical isolation

[0018]8: second microcomputer device

[0019]9: second microprocessor

[0020]10: second microprocessor bus

[0021]11: second coupling device, second protocol controller

[0022]12: serial data signals in the second microcomputer device

[0023]13: power supply region of the second microcomputer device

[0024]14: higher-order microcomputer device

[0025]15: ethernet switch

[0026]16: first serial data connection

[0027]17: second serial data connection

[0028]18: third microcomputer device

[0029]19: cable

[0030]20: first microcomputer device connected in parallel

[0031]21: second microcomputer device connected in parallel

[0032]22: multiport RAM

[0033]23: first port

[0034]24: second port

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0035]FIG. 1: shows a system for data transfer between two microcomputer devices.

[0036]FIG. 2: shows a system for data transfer having more than two microcomputer devices.

[0037]FIG. 3: shows a system for data transfer between two microcomputer devices according to the related art.

[0038]FIG. 1 shows the functional units for a system for data transfer between two microcomputer devices. Only the components necessary for illustrating the system according to the present invention are shown, the function of the respective microcomputer devices is not relevant for the description. In the example described, the two microcomputer devices are positioned on a board shared by both microcomputer devices. The first microcomputer device 1 contains, in addition to the components for its task, which are not described in more detail here, at least the necessary components for data transfer to at least a second microcomputer device 2. For data transfer from the first microcomputer device 1 to the second microcomputer device 2, a first protocol controller 4 is connected via the first microprocessor bus 3 to the microprocessor 2 contained in the first microcomputer device 1. The first processor bus is implemented as parallel in this case, typically containing address signals, control signals, and data signals. In the example described, the protocol controller 4 is a standard ethernet controller, as has already been described in the related art. This first protocol controller 4 is capable of serially outputting the data to be transferred according to the known ethernet standard via the serial data signals 5. The second microcomputer device 8 also contains a protocol controller 11 for serial data reception, which provides the received serial data signals 12 as data for a parallel access of the second access of the second microprocessor 9 via the second microprocessor bus 10. The implementation of the second microprocessor bus 10 may differ from that of the first microprocessor bus 3 in this case. In the present example, the signal connection of the serial data signals 5 of the first microcomputer device 1 to the serial data signals 12 of the second microcomputer device is performed via an electrical isolation 7, which may be produced, for example, using generally known optical couplers, magnetic couplers, or capacitive couplers. In case of electrical isolation of the serial data signals 5, 12, the power supply region 6 of the first microcomputer device 1 may be constructed separately from the power supply region 13 of the second microcomputer device 2. The data transfer from the second microcomputer device 2 to the first microcomputer device 1 is performed in the same way in this case, but in the reverse direction. In the reverse direction means that the data transfer from the second microcomputer device 8 to the first microcomputer device 1 is performed so that in this case the second microprocessor transfers the data to be transferred to the second protocol controller 11 via its second microprocessor bus 10, the second protocol controller 11 being capable of serially transferring the data to be transferred to the first microcomputer device 1 via the serial data signals 12, 5 according to the known ethernet standard, with or without electrical isolation 7.

[0039]FIG. 2 shows an overview of a system for data transfer between more than two microcomputer devices. A higher-order microcomputer device 14 contains, in addition to the components relevant for its function and the components described above for data transfer, an ethernet switch 15, which has been described in the related art and is therefore generally known. This ethernet switch is only used for providing more than one serial data connection, so that a second microcomputer device 8 [word missing] at the first serial data connection 16, and a third microcomputer device 18 [word missing] on the second serial data connection 17.

[0040] Of course, in the system according to the present invention for data transfer, one or more microcomputer devices may also be connected to one another with the aid of a cable 19, for example, a standard ethernet cable. Even the combination of microcomputer devices spatially connected to one another and microcomputer devices spatially separated from one another is possible.

[0041]FIG. 3 shows an example of a system for parallel data transfer between two microcomputer devices 20, 21 in a parallel method. A first microcomputer device 20 connected in parallel contains a multiport RAM 22 for the data connection, which, for a data transfer to the second microcomputer device 21 connected in parallel, is described using the data and addressing information to be transferred via the first port 23. The second microcomputer device 21 connected in parallel may read this data, which is intended for it, via the second port 24 of the multiport RAM 22. It is obvious that the data transfer is also possible in the other direction, i.e., from the second microcomputer device 21 connected in parallel to the first microcomputer device 20 connected in parallel. 

1. A system for data transfer between microcomputer devices (1, 8), which each contain at least one microprocessor (2,9), a microprocessor bus (3, 10), a coupling device (4, 11) connected thereto, the coupling device (4, 11) providing a serial protocol, the data transfer being performed between the microcomputer devices (1, 8) via the coupling devices, characterized in that the microcomputer devices (1, 8) are spatially positioned within one system and each microcomputer device (1, 8) is assigned its own, separate power supply region (6, 13) and the coupling devices (4, 11) provide a standardized serial protocol.
 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the standardized serial ethernet protocol is used for the serial data transfer between the microcomputer devices (1, 8).
 3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the power supply regions (6, 13) of the microcomputer devices (1, 8) may be switched off or on individually and the respective power supply region (6, 13) of a microcomputer device (1, 8) which remains switched on remains uninfluenced.
 4. The system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the microcomputer devices (1, 8) are spatially positioned on one board.
 5. The system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in addition to the two microcomputer devices (14, 8) which transfer data to one another, at least one further microcomputer device (18) may be incorporated into the system.
 6. The system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an ethernet switch (15) is used in at least one microcomputer device (14) for coupling in multiple further microcomputer devices (1, 18).
 7. The system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one microcomputer device (18), which is spatially distant, is connected via a cable (19) to the higher-order microcomputer device (14).
 8. The system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the serial data connection (5,12) between the microcomputer devices (1, 8) contains an electrical isolation (7).
 9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the electrical isolation (7) is produced using an optical coupler.
 10. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the electrical isolation (7) is produced using a magnetic coupler.
 11. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the electrical isolation (7) is produced using a capacitive coupler. 